'We Are Committed To Improvement Of Relations'

Following is the text of the Prime Minister's statement in Parliamenttoday:

"I received a telephone call on the evening of 28th April, from PMJamali of Pakistan.

PM Jamali conveyed his appreciation and thanks for the comments I had made inSrinagar and my remarks about India-Pakistan relations contained in my statementin the two Houses of Parliament. He also condemned terrorism.

As Honourable members are aware, we are committed to the improvement ofrelations with Pakistan, and are willing to grasp every opportunity for doingso. However, we have repeatedly expressed the need to create a conduciveatmosphere for a sustained dialogue, which necessarily requires an end to crossborder terrorism and the dismantling of its infrastructure.

We discussed ways of carrying forward our bilateral relations. In thisregard, I emphasized the importance of economic cooperation, cultural exchanges,people-to-people contacts and civil aviation links. These would create anenvironment in which difficult issues in our bilateral relations could beaddressed. PM Jamali suggested resumption of sporting links between the twocountries. We agreed that, as a beginning, these measures could be considered.

In this context, it has been decided to appoint a High Commissioner toPakistan and to restore the civil aviation links on a reciprocal basis.

I also emphasized the importance of substantive progress on the decisions forregional trade and economic cooperation taken at the SAARC Kathmandu Summit.Agreements arrived at Kathmandu must be implemented".